Extendible and retractable reaching tool

ABSTRACT

An extendible-retractable device, which is made up of a number of interconnected members and to which a suitable tool may be attached. The device makes it possible to continually change the position of the tool as a task is being performed. The device includes members which are attached to each other through flexible cables so that relatively small movements of a handle or similar device in the hand of the user results is relatively large extension or retraction movements of the farthest member which carries the tool.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.07/923,657 filed Aug. 3, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,334 which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/912,415,filed Jul. 13, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,086.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device which is useful forefficiently extending and retracting a wide variety of tools and, moreparticularly, to a device made up of a plurality of interacting memberswhich can be easily extended and retracted so as to place in the desiredlocation a tool or other instrumentality attached to the device.

It is often desirable to be able to place and cause to operate a tool orother instrumentality (hereinafter "tool") at a location which is moredistant than can be comfortably reached by extending one's arm with thetool therein. For example, when one wishes to change an incandescentlight bulb located in a ceiling which is ten feet tall, it is necessaryto grab and rotate the light bulb. To this end one might climb on aladder and use one's hand to replace the bulb. Alternatively, one couldobviate the need to use a ladder by using a sufficiently long pole whichhad a tool at its end which was capable of grabbing and rotating thebulb. In this case, the operator would remain standing safely on theground while replacing the light bulb and would carry out the operationthrough the use of the long pole.

While a pole as described is useful in certain applications, it is notfree from shortcomings. Primarily, it is known that, unlike the case ofreplacing a light bulb described above, in many operations the locationat which the operation is to take place is not at a fixed distance fromthe user but varies either discretely or continually during theoperation.

For example, if one wished to paint the ten-foot tall walls and theceiling of a room with a paint roller, means must be at hand forlocating the roller at every point on the walls and ceiling.Furthermore, the location of the roller varies instantaneously duringeach painting stroke, regardless of the position of the painter. Oneoption is to use a hand-held roller and make use of a ladder orscaffolding to reach the top portions of the walls and the ceiling.Another alternative is to mount the roller on a sufficiently long polewhich will allow the top portions of the walls and the ceiling to bereached with the painter remaining standing on the floor withoutrequiring the use of a ladder.

One disadvantage of this technique is that the length of a stroke islimited by the distance through which the painter's arms can move, i.e.,if the painter is able to translate the pole a distance of three feet,the paint stroke on the wall will be limited to three feet.

A further disadvantage of this technique is that the pole is of fixedlength and may therefore be of limited use in other application. Thus, afive foot pole which may be useful in painting a room having ten-foothigh walls and ceiling, may be largely inadequate in painting a roomhaving fifteen-foot high walls and ceiling.

To partially overcome the latter disadvantage and to thereby increaseits versatility, it is possible to form the pole from a number ofdetachable modules. In this way modules could be added or removed beforeeach use so as to produce a pole with overall length which is adequatefor the intended task. While the modularization of the pole overcomescertain difficulties, it remains a tedious chore to add or removemodules before each task. More importantly, once a pole of proper lengthhas been assembled, it continues to suffer from the disadvantagedescribed above relating to the limitation on the length of the stroke.

A possible solution is to form a pole made up of a number ofinterconnected members which are able to move relative to one anotherand thereby alternately lengthen and shorten the pole. Such a pole mayuse hydraulic or pneumatic means, not unlike those used in a variety ofwinches, for example, the system used to position a basket carrying anelectrical repairman sufficiently near a transformer as to allow therepairman to work on the transformer. However, such systems are heavyand mechanically complicated and are thus not suitable for a simplehand-held pole for use in properly locating a relatively light tool.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highlyadvantageous to have, an extendible-retractable device which can beactively and positively extended and retracted, as desired by the user,with the device oriented at any angle, to which a tool could be attachedand which could be easily used to rapidly vary the length of the poleduring the performance of a particular task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided anextendible-retractable device, comprising: (a) a first member; (b) asecond member movable relative to the first member; (c) a first flexibleconnector attached to a posterior portion of the second member, thefirst flexible connector being constrained by and being movable relativeto a first location of the first member; and (d) a second flexibleconnector attached to a posterior portion of the second member, thesecond flexible connector being constrained by and being movablerelative to a second location of the first member, the second locationbeing posterior of the first location, the first flexible connector andthe second flexible connector being coupled to each other so that thefirst flexible connector, the second flexible connector and the secondmember all move simultaneously.

Also according to the present invention there is provided aextendible-retractable device, comprising: (a) a first member; (b) asecond member, the first member being movable relative to the secondmember; (c) a third member, the third member being movable relative tothe second member; (d) a flexible connector mounted in the secondmember, the flexible connector being connected to the first member andto the second member such that the first and third members move togetherin opposite directions.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the inventiondescribed below, there is further provided: (e) a third member movablerelative to the first member and the second member; (f) a third flexibleconnector attached to a posterior portion of the third member, the thirdflexible connector being constrained by and being movable relative to afirst location of the second member, the third flexible connector beingattached to a first attachment location of the first member so thatanteriorly-directed motion of the second member results inanteriorly-directed motion of the third member; and (g) a fourthflexible connector attached to a posterior portion of the third member,the fourth flexible connector being constrained by and being movablerelative to a second location of the second member, the second locationbeing posterior of the first location, the fourth flexible connectorbeing attached to a second attachment location of the first member sothat posteriorly-directed motion of the second member results inposteriorly-directed motion of the third member.

According to still further features in the described preferredembodiments the members are nested together and are approximatelycylindrical in shape, although the members may not be nested but rathermay be arranged next to each other.

According to still further features in the described preferredembodiments, attached to the farthest member is a suitable tool whichmay be, among many other possibilities, a paint brush, a paint roller, amop, a dust brush, a cutting tool, a tongs, or a fitting capable ofattaching the device to another body.

According to another embodiment according to the present invention thereis provided an extendible-retractable device, comprising: (a) a firstmember formed with a longitudinal slot; (b) a second member movablerelative to the first member; (c) a rigid connector attached to aposterior portion of the second member, the rigid connector beingslidable through the longitudinal slot of the first member so that thesecond member is moved whenever the rigid connector is moved; (d) athird member movable relative to the first member and the second member;(e) a third flexible connector attached to a posterior portion of thethird member, the third flexible connector being constrained by andbeing movable relative to a first location of the second member, thethird flexible connector being attached to a first attachment locationof the first member so that anteriorly-directed motion of the secondmember results in anteriorly-directed motion of the third member; and(f) a fourth flexible connector attached to a posterior portion of thethird member, the fourth flexible connector being constrained by andbeing movable relative to a second location of the second member, thesecond location being posterior of the first location, the fourthflexible connector being attached to a second attachment location of thefirst member so that posteriorly-directed motion of the second memberresults in posteriorly-directed motion of the third member.

According to yet another embodiment according to the present inventionthere is provided an extendible-retractable device, comprising: (a) afirst member formed with a longitudinal slot and having a second rack;(b) a second member movable relative to the first member and having afirst pinion near its anterior end and a second pinion near itsposterior end, the second pinion engaged to the second rack; (c) a rigidconnector attached to a posterior portion of the second member, therigid connector being slidable through the longitudinal slot of thefirst member so that the second member is moved whenever the rigidconnector is moved; (d) a third member movable relative to the firstmember and the second member, the third member having a first rackengaged to the first pinion, the pinion being rotatable by a cable whichis attached to the first member so that anteriorly-directed motion ofthe second member results is anteriorly-directed motion of the thirdmember, the third member being attached to a second pinion cable forrotating the second pinion, so that posteriorly-directed motion of thesecond member results is posteriorly-directed motion of the thirdmember.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of thepresently known configurations by providing an extendible-retractabledevice on which can be mounted a suitable tool which can be used tocontinually change the position of the tool so as to facilitate carryingout the task.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a device made up of three members;

FIG. 2 is another device made up of two members and featuring adetachable handle;

FIG. 3 is yet another device made up of two members and featuring arigid connector;

FIG. 4 is a device made up of three members which are arranged next toeach other rather than inside one another as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is still another embodiment of a device according to the presentinvention featuring three members, a rigid connector and rack-and-pinionmechanisms;

FIG. 6 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 featuring a motor, agear wheel and a notched bar;

FIG. 7 is an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 1 but with a motor formoving the second member;

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment including detachable extensionmembers;

FIG. 9 is another alternative embodiment featuring a single toothedwheel;

FIG. 10 is an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 9 but featuring a pairof connected toothed wheels;

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a magnified section of the embodiment of FIG. 11 andfurther shows a flexible connecting member;

FIG. 13 shows a typical device according to the present invention with aselection of tools for attachment to the device;

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a device according to the present invention inuse for painting a vertical wall;

FIGS. 15A and 15B show a device according to the present invention inuse for sweeping a floor;

FIG. 16 shows a number of interlinked devices according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 17A and 17B show a number of interlinked devices according to thepresent invention when used to create a support structure of suitabledimensions;

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate two tripods incorporating devices accordingto the present invention;

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate two more tripods incorporating devicesaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C illustrates three additional applications of adevice according to the present invention using an electrical shocker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a device which can be used to continuallychange the position of a tool during the operation of the tool.Specifically, the present invention can be used to conveniently andrapidly carry out a large variety of tasks which would otherwise requirecareful preparation and/or the use of ladders and similar devices. Forexample, a device according to the present invention can be used toquickly and safely paint entire walls and ceilings while standing on thefloor. It can be used to replace light bulbs in the ceiling withouthaving to climb on a ladder or touch the bulb. It can be used to takedown a book or a grocery store item located on a high shelf without useof a chair or a ladder.

The principles and operation of an extendible-retractable deviceaccording to the present invention may be better understood withreference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two relatedembodiments of the present invention. The device illustrated includesthree embers--a first member 10, a second member 12 and a third member14. The three members are sized and shaped so as that third member 14fits inside second member 12 which, in turn, fits inside first member10. Second member 12 and third member 14 are movable parallel to eachother and relative to first member 10. The members shown are cylindricalin shape, but any other suitable shape may be used. For example, asystem according to the present invention may include a member of squarecross section nested within a member of circular cross section. Thisfacilitates the prevention of rotation of one member relative toanother. In certain applications, however, it may be desirable to haveone member rotate relative to another, either automatically as part ofthe extension or retraction process (e.g. with the aid of a spiralprotrusion on the outside surface of an inner member) or independentlycontrolled by the user. It is not essential that the three members benested inside each other as will be discussed below in the context ofFIG. 4.

A first flexible connector 16, which is preferably a suitable cable, isattached to second member 12, preferably at its posterior portion, mostpreferably at its posterior edge. The attachment is preferablypermanent. First flexible connector 16 then runs from its point ofattachment to second member 12 to the adjoining anterior edge 18 offirst member 10. It is preferable to include a small pulley wheel (notshown) permanently attached to first member 10 at anterior edge 18 tofacilitate movement of first flexible connector 16 and prevent frictionand wear of first flexible connector 16. From there, first flexibleconnector 16 runs posteriorly along the wall of first member 10. Ratherthan passing over the anterior edge 18 of first member 10, firstflexible connector 16 may be made to pass through a first hole 20 (FIG.2), preferably located near the anterior edge 18 of first member 10,which may, itself include a friction-reducing pulley. In either case,first flexible connector 16 is made to pass through a fixed point onfirst member 10, preferably located at or near anterior edge 18 of firstmember 10.

A second flexible connector 22, which is preferably a suitable cable, isalso attached to second member 12, preferably at its posterior portion,most preferably at its posterior edge. The attachment is preferablypermanent. Second flexible connector 22 then runs from its point ofattachment to second member 12 to the adjoining posterior edge 24 offirst member 10. It is preferable to include a small pulley wheel (notshown) permanently attached to first member 10 at posterior edge 24 tofacilitate movement of second flexible connector 22 and prevent frictionand wear of second flexible connector 22. From there, second flexibleconnector 22 runs anteriorly along the wall of first member 10. Ratherthan passing under the posterior edge 24 of first member 10, secondflexible connector 24 may be made to pass through a second hole 26 (FIG.2), which is posterior of first hole 20 and which is preferably locatednear the posterior edge 24 of first member 10, which may, itself includea friction-reducing pulley. In either case, second flexible connector 24is made to pass through a fixed point on first member 10, preferablylocated at or near posterior edge 24 of first member 10.

The end of first flexible connector 16 and the end of second flexibleconnector 22 which are not connected to second member 12 are coupled toeach other either directly or indirectly. When coupled directly to eachother, the two flexible connectors form, in effect, a single flexibleconnector. Operation of the device in this case is by alternativelypulling the joined flexible connector anteriorly and posteriorly. Ratherthan joining the ends of the two flexible connectors, it is clear thatit is possible to use a single flexible connector from the start andthereby obviate the need to attach to each other two connectors.Similarly, it is clear that two flexible connectors attached to secondmember 12 may alternatively be a single connector which is attached tosecond member 12.

Alternatively, the two ends of flexible connectors 16 and 22 are eachattached to opposite ends of a handle 28. Alternatively, a handle 28 maybe mounted onto and fixedly connected to a single flexible connector.Flexible connectors 16 and 22 are sufficiently taut that longitudinalmotion of handle 28 translates into longitudinal motion in the oppositedirection of second member 12. To facilitate use of the device it may bedesirable to include a secondary handle (not shown) fixedly connected tofirst member 10. This secondary handle, which may extend posteriorlyfrom first member 10, or which may form the posterior portion of firstmember 10, would be intended as a place for the user's other hand, i.e.,the hand not used to operate handle 28, to firmly grasp the device andhelp create the relative motion between handle 28 and first member 10.

Handle 28 may be of any suitable design. In the embodiment of FIG. 1,handle 28 hangs on the side of first member 10. In a preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 2, handle 28 is equipped with means forattaching handle 28 to first member 10. Such means may take the form ofa protrusion 38 in the surface of handle 28 facing first member 10.Protrusion 38 is sized and shaped so as to fit within one or a series ofdepressions 40 in the side of first member 10. This mechanism makes itpossible to fix the position of handle 28 once the desired extension orretraction has been achieved, and prevents the extent of the extensionor retraction from accidentally changing.

In an alternative embodiment according to the present invention, handle28 is replaced by a winch mechanism (not shown) which is permanentlyattached to first member 10. Rather than pulling handle 28 anteriorly orposteriorly, the winch is turned to accomplish the same goal. The winchmay further include means, such as a ratchet mechanism, for locking thewinch in a particular position so as to prevent the members from movingrelative to each other.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, third member 14 is connected tofirst member 10 through a third flexible connector 30 and a fourthflexible connector 32.

Third flexible connector 30, which is preferably a suitable cable, isattached to third member 14, preferably at its posterior portion, mostpreferably at its posterior edge. The attachment is preferablypermanent. Third flexible connector 30 then runs from its point ofattachment to third member 14 to the adjoining anterior edge 34 ofsecond member 12. It is preferable to include a small pulley wheel (notshown) permanently attached to second member 12 at anterior edge 34 tofacilitate movement of third flexible connector 30 and prevent frictionand wear of third flexible connector 30. From there, third flexibleconnector 30 runs posteriorly along the wall of second member 12. Ratherthan passing over the anterior edge 34 of second member 12, thirdflexible connector 30 may be made to pass through a third hole (notshown), preferably located near the anterior edge 34 of second member12. In either case, third flexible connector 30 is made to pass througha fixed point on second member 12, preferably located at or nearanterior edge 34 of second member 12. The end of third flexibleconnector 30 is attached to a fixed point, preferably at or near theanterior edge of first member 10, and preferably permanently, in such away that third flexible connector 30 is always taut so thatanteriorly-directed motion of second member 12 results inanteriorly-directed motion of third member 14.

A fourth flexible connector 32, which is preferably a suitable cable, isalso attached to third member 14, preferably at its posterior portion,most preferably at its posterior edge. The attachment is preferablypermanent. Fourth flexible connector 32 then runs from its point ofattachment to third member 14 to the adjoining posterior edge 36 ofsecond member 12. It is preferable to include a small pulley wheel (notshown) permanently attached to second member 12 at posterior edge 36 tofacilitate movement of fourth flexible connector 32 and prevent frictionand wear of fourth flexible connector 32. From there, fourth flexibleconnector 32 runs anteriorly along the wall of second member 12. Ratherthan passing under the posterior edge 36 of second member 12, fourthflexible connector 32 may be made to pass through a fourth hole (notshown), which is posterior of the third hole described above and whichis preferably located near the posterior edge 36 of second member 12.The end of fourth flexible connector 32 is attached to a fixed point,preferably at or near the anterior edge of first member 10, andpreferably permanently, in such a way that fourth flexible connector 32is always taut so that anteriorly-directed motion of second member 12results in anteriorly-directed motion of third member 14. Preferably,third flexible connector 30 and fourth flexible connector 32 areconnected to third member 14 at opposing points along its circumference.Similarly, third flexible connector 30 and fourth flexible connector 32are preferably connected to first member 10 at opposing points along itscircumference. Such placement of the attachment points serves tocentralize third member 14 and reduce its tendency to engage the wallsof second member 12 and produce undesirable frictional forces which tendto impede relative motion of the members. The centralization thus servesto facilitate the extension and retraction of the device. Toward thesame ends, it may be preferable to include a number of connected orindependent third flexible connectors 30 and/or a number of connected orindependent fourth flexible connectors 32 disposed around the peripheryof third member 14 to further centralize third member 14. Along the samelines, it may be preferably to utilize a number of connected orindependent first flexible connectors 16 and/or a number of connected orindependent second flexible connectors 22 disposed around the peripheryof first member 10 to further stabilize and centralize second member 12.

A device according to the present invention may be used to carry a tooland place it where the user desires as the task being performedprogresses. The variety of tools which can be used in conjunction withan extendible-retractable device according to the present invention isalmost limitless. For convenience, they can be classified into passivetools, automatically activated tools, and independently activated tools.In each case, the tool is preferably connected, most preferablydetachably, to the furthest member of the device.

Passive tools include those tools which need merely be connected to thefurthest member. In this category fall tools such as a paint brush, apaint roller, a mop, a dust brush, and a stationary cutting tool, suchas a knife. Also included in this category are various fittings whichmake it possible to connect the device to another body. For example, thetool could be used as a tripod to support a camera, or as a support foran antenna, or as a bolt onto which a shading member can be screwed toform a beach umbrella. Similarly, the fitting 42 may be such as to makepossible the attachment of a second extendible-retractable device, asthrough an engageable opening 43, which would make it possible toquickly build rigid structures such as a tent.

Automatically activated tools are those which would be activated anddeactivated by the very extension or retraction of theextendible-retractable device. For example, in picking fruits which areall at approximately the same height from the ground, it may bedesirable to use a clipper which closes and cuts whenever theextendible-retractable device is extended.

Finally, independently activated tools are those which can be activatedor operated by the user independently of the current extension orretraction status of the device. Examples might be various cuttingtools, shears, scissors, and tongs 44 used to pick up and releasevarious objects. To operate such tools means would be provided totransmit an independent action by the user to the tool. One such meansmight be a coaxial cable configuration, such as is used in brakingsystems for bicycles. Sufficient coaxial cable 46 would be wound on aroller so that the cable could be automatically lengthened and shortenedas the device is lengthened and shortened. The coaxial construction ofthe cable, with the inner cable being able to move relative to theoutside tube, would allow the user to operate the tool regardless of theprecise extension or retraction status of the device. To operate thetool, the user would move an operating handle 48.

Handle 48 may be of any suitable construction. One example of adifferent handle is shown in FIG. 5 wherein handle frame 70 is rigidlymounted to first member 10. Handle bar 72 is slidably mounted ontohandle frame 70 so that the user can pull handle bar 72 toward handleframe 70 whenever it is desired to activate, for example, tongs 44.Preferably, handle bar 72 is biased, as by a spring (not shown) to aposition away from handle frame 70. Onto handle bar 72 is mounted aspool 74 onto which is wound an appropriate length of cable 46 toaccommodate the varying lengths of the device in various states ofextension and retraction.

Another alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 3. Here first member10 features a longitudinal slot 50. A rigid connector 52 is attached toa posterior portion of second member 12. Rigid connector 52 is slidablethrough longitudinal slot 50 so that second member 12 is moved wheneverrigid connector 52 is moved. Rigid connector 52 may be attached to ormay include a handle element 54 which is found outside of first member10. To extend or retract the device, the user would move handle element54 anteriorly or posteriorly, respectively. Such a mechanism replacesfirst flexible connector 16 and second flexible connector 22. Theinterconnections represented by third flexible connector 30 and fourthflexible connector 32 are as described above in the context of thepreviously discussed embodiments.

Yet another alternative embodiment of a device according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 4. The device is related to that shown inFIG. 1, except that rather than the three members being nested insideone another, the three members of FIG. 4 are arranged along side of eachother. Such a configuration may be useful, for example, in opening andclosing slats of window blinds of various types. The slats may movethrough tracks or may be suspended.

Still another alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 5. Here, as inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 3, first member 10 features a longitudinalslot 50. A rigid connector 52 is attached to a posterior portion ofsecond member 12. Rigid connector 52 is slidable through longitudinalslot 50 so that second member 12 is moved whenever rigid connector 52 ismoved. Rigid connector 52 may be attached to or may include a handleelement 54 which is found outside of first member 10. To extend orretract the device, the user moves handle element 54 anteriorly orposteriorly, respectively. Handle element 54 may include handle stopper55 which can be inserted into longitudinal slot 50 whenever it isdesired to immobilize handle element 54 so as to maintain a certaindegree of extension or retraction of the device.

Attached to first member 10 is a first pinion cable 76 which is attachedto a take-up spool (not shown) which is connected to, and is capable ofrotating, a first pinion 78. First pinion 78 is mounted onto secondmember 12, preferably near its anterior end. To reduce abrasion of firstpinion cable 76, a tube 80 is preferably provided which is attached tosecond member 12 and through which first pinion cable 76 is able tomove.

Mounted onto third member 14 opposite first pinion 78 is first rack 82which engages first pinion 78. Whenever it is desired to extend thedevice, handle element 54 is pushed anteriorly, thereby forcing secondelement 12 anteriorly. Since one end of first pinion cable 76 is fixedto first member 10, the anterior motion of second member 12 causes firstpinion 78 to rotate clockwise. Since the gears of first pinion 78 areengaged with first rack 82, the rotation of first pinion 78 brings aboutthe anterior displacement of third element 14.

To effect the retraction of the device, second member 12 is equippedwith a second pinion 84, preferably at its posterior end, which engagessecond rack 86 mounted onto the interior surface of first member 10. Asecond pinion cable 88 is attached to second pinion 84 so as to be ableto rotate it, and is attached at its other end to third member 14.

Whenever it is desired to retract the device, handle element 54 ispushed posteriorly, thereby forcing second element 12 posteriorly. Theposterior motion of second member 12 causes second pinion 84 to rotateas it steps down along second rack 86. This rotation serves to take upsecond pinion cable 88 and thereby to displace third member 14posteriorly.

Preferably, a device according to this embodiment further includes meansfor preventing the rotation of third member 14 relative to second member12. This means may take the form of a pin 90 which is attached to thirdmember 14 and which is capable of sliding only along anti-rotation slot92. Second member 12 is prevented from rotating relative to first member10 in similar fashion through the constraint offered by longitudinalslot 50 to the movement of rigid connector 52. Eliminating the rotationof the members relative to one another ensures that the rack-and-pinionsare properly engaged at all times.

To help centralize third member 14, second member 12 is preferablyequipped with a centralizing wheel 94 which tends to keep third member14 centralized and ensures proper engagement of first pinion 78 withfirst rack 82.

In each of the described embodiments it may be desirable to add one ormore springs (not shown) which will tend to facilitate and expedite theextension (or the retraction) of the outlying members. When retracting(or extending) such a device, sufficient additional force would have toapplied to overcome the opposing force of the springs.

An embodiment which resembles that shown in FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6,the major difference between the two being the presence of a suitablemotor 100 which serves to rotate a gear wheel 102 in either sense. Gearwheel 102 engages a notched bar 104 attached to second member 12 so thatrotation of gear wheel 102 is effective in raising or lowering secondmember 12.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but includinga motor 100 as in FIG. 6 which serves to rotate a pair of wheels 106 and108 in either sense. The rotation of wheels 106 and 108 serves tosimultaneously take in and let out first flexible connectors 16 so as tomove second member 12 in the way described above with respect to FIG. 1.Also shown in FIG. 7 is a modification which includes a catch bag 110which allows the device, with a proper tongs 44 or scissors-typeattachment, to be used in the picking and gathering of fruits from atree.

Shown in FIG. 8 is another embodiment according to the presentinvention. The embodiment includes a first member 200, a second member202 and a third member 204. The operating principle is similar to thatin the embodiments described above but the means for implementing theprinciple differ somewhat, as described below. In this and subsequentlydescribed configurations the flexible members, if any, are all internalto the device which prevents the flexible members, when present, fromgetting dirty or worn.

First member 200 and third member 204 are each slidable within secondmember 202. Mounted in second member 202 is a continuous band 206 whichis attached to both first member 200 and to third member 204. When firstmember 200 is pulled downward, continuous band 206 is forced to rotateclockwise, thereby pulling third member 204 upwards, and vice versa.

Also shown in FIG. 8 is a modification whereby first member 200 is madeup of two detachable sections--an anchoring section 210 which isattached to continuous band 206, and a replaceable section 212 which canbe screwed into, or otherwise detachably connected to, anchoring section210. A similar arrangement is shown for third member 204 which is madeup of anchoring section 214 and replaceable section 216. Thisarrangement makes it possible to readily lengthen or shorten the twomembers and/or replace them with members having particularly suitableproperties, as desired, for a particular application.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment which is similar to that of FIG. 8 butwherein the continuous band is replaced by a toothed wheel 220 whichengages toothed bars 222 and 224 connected to first member 200 and tothird member 204, respectively. Stops 226 and 228 ensure that neither ofthe moveable members is able to be pulled completely out from secondmember 202. FIG. 9 also shows the possibility of using sensors 230 and232 to detect the position of the moving parts of the device and couldbe used in a variety of ways. For example, in applications where it isdesired to periodically extend and retract third member 204 to produce aseries of strokes, as in painting, the sensor could be used to detectthe end of a stroke and to actuate a motor to change the direction ofthird member 204.

A variation of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is shown in FIG. 10. In thisembodiment two toothed wheels 240 and 242 are connected by continuousband 244 which makes it possible to extend third member 204approximately twice as far as is possible with the embodiment of FIG. 9.

Yet another configuration is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 whichsomewhat resembles the embodiment of FIG. 10. In this embodiment themovement of first member 200 downward causes toothed wheel 240 to rotatecounterclockwise. Since toothed wheels 240 and 242 are connected, therotation of wheel 240 brings about the counterclockwise rotation ofwheel 242 whose teeth interact with third member 204 causing it toextend out of second member 202.

FIG. 12 shows a close-up view of one section of the device of FIG. 11wherein third member 204 is hollow so as to be able to accommodate theflow of fluids, such as water, through the device. The device furtherincludes a flexible, bellows-like hollow tube 250 which flexiblyconnects third member 204 with the inlet 252 through which fluid isintroduced to the system. In this way, inlet 252 can be fixed to firstmember 200 yet third member 204 can be caused to extend away from secondmember 202 without losing hydraulic communication with inlet 252. Such aconfiguration is useful, for example, for use with vacuum cleaners andspray painting devices.

As mentioned above, a device according to the present invention may beused with any one of a large variety of tools connected to one or bothof its ends. Some examples of such tools are shown in FIG. 13.

Shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are views of a device according to the presentinvention as it might appear in applications involving the painting of awall (FIGS. 14A and 14B) and sweeping a floor (FIGS. 15A and 15B).

Shown in FIG. 16 are four devices according to the present inventionwhich have been interlinked so that the extension of one unit causes theextension of the others. Illustrated in FIG. 16 are four units which arerigidly connected to each other. Each pair of adjoining units arefurther connected in that the outward motion of the third member of onedevice brings about the extension of the adjoining device. One way ofaccomplishing this is illustrated with regard to the pair of devices atthe left and top of FIG. 16.

Another application, which is based on the configuration of FIG. 16, isillustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B where a set of devices according to thepresent invention are shown assembled into a rapidly assembled andhighly versatile structure which can serve, for example, the underlyingstructure for a tent, and the like. Preferably, such a device would alsoinclude an appropriate tarpaulin or other suitable cloth to close offthe open spaces between the rigid structure. The spaces could also beclosed by sliding panels along the lines of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

Another application of devices according to the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 18A, 18B, 19A and 19B, which depict variousversions of a tripod incorporating devices according to the presentinvention in the tripod legs. In each case, the device includes acentral pole and three legs. For clarity, one of the three legs isomitted in each drawing.

The configurations of FIGS. 18A and 18B show the closed and openpositions of an embodiment which operates along the lines of theembodiment of FIG. 1 such that an upward motion leads to the extensionof the legs. In FIGS. 19A and 19B are shown the closed and openpositions of a configuration along the lines of FIGS. 3 and 5 wherein adownward motion is used to extend the legs. In both configurations, itis possible to adjust the length of each leg individually before the legis locked in position.

Finally, shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are three applications ofdevices according to the present invention in the context of electricshockers, such as those which might be used to ward off an attack. FIG.20A shows a walking cane equipped with a shocker which can be placedwhere desired by use of a release lever and a system of springs. Shownin FIG. 20B is an umbrella which operates in the same way. Finally, FIG.20C features a stick which, in addition, may feature a knife or similarcutting tool to cut through the attacker's clothes so as to allow bettercontact of the shocker with the attacker's skin.

While the invention has been described with respect to severalembodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modificationsand other applications of the invention may be made.

What is claimed is:
 1. An extendible-retractable device, comprising:(a)a first member having a first rack; (b) a second member, said firstmember being movable relative to said second member; (c) a third member,said third member being movable relative to said second member andhaving a second rack; (d) a pair of toothed wheels mounted onto saidsecond member, said toothed wheels being connected to each other througha flexible connector, said toothed wheels engaging said first and saidsecond racks such that said first and third members move together inopposite directions.